Should I snap or flick my wrist during the stroke?
In general, no. The wrist should remain relaxed and “be along for the ride.” The wrist will pivot naturally during the stroke if it is relaxed. You shouldn’t actively attempt to snap of flick it.
Here’s are some reasons to not snap or flick your wrist:
- If you snap or flick your wrist, you might also flex or curl it causing the cue to go off line.
- It takes tension to actively snap of flick the wrist, and tension is not good for a well-controlled stroke.
- You might lose cue tip contact point height accuracy if the wrist is in a different position at the end of the stroke than it was at the set position.
- You will not have accurate and consistent speed control.
- If your goal is to add cue speed with the snap/flick, it could actually have the opposite effect if you are tensing up to apply the snap/flick. Tension during the stroke usually hurts smooth acceleration.
There are some cases where wrist snap and flick could have beneficial effects. For one, it might help one create a little extra cue speed if the timing is perfect and the snap/flick is done near the end of the stroke into the ball (see break technique advice). Wrist flick is also important with jump shots. It can also be used to help avoid a double hit foul when the CB is close to the OB.
For more information, see:
Should I twist my wrist during the stroke?
No! This throws the cue offline. Some people claim it helps create a unique action on the ball, but this is BS. See:
See also: swoop/swipe stroke.
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